Method and composition for inhibiting tobacco suckers



United States Patent 3,193,373 METHQD AND CQMPOSlTiGN FOR INHEBITENG TU ACQU SUCKERS Edwin V. Parups, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, assignor to anadian Patents and Development Limited, Ottawa, Gui-aria, Canada, a company No Drawing. Filed May 28, 1952, Ser. No. 197,831

This invention relates to agricultural chemical compositions and in particular to agricultural chemical compositions containing quinone (p-benzoquinone) and ringsubstituted quinones which can be used in conjunction with maleic acid 'hydrazide (l,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6- dione) and derivatives thereof, when used to inhibit the growth of suckers on tobacco plants, to counteract the adverse effects which maleic acid hydrazide and its derivatives have on tobacco leaves when used alone.

The use of maleic acid hydrazide and its derivatives in an agricultural composition capable of being used for inhibiting the growth of suckers on tobacco plants is known as evidenced by United States Patent No. 2,805; 926, issued September 10, 1957, to United States Rubber Company. However, the use of such as a sucker growth inhibitor has not met with very widespread acceptance even though the advantages to be gained through its use are, as will be appreciated, quite significant bearing in mind the acreage in North America currently devoted to tobacco growing, because of the fact that the use of maleic acid hydrazide and its derivatives for this purpose has been found to adversely effect the resultant tobacco to the extent that certain characteristics of the tobacco leaf so treated are changed in a manner which is detrimental from the tobacco product manufacturers point of view even though the tobaccos quality as measured by grades is not normally changed appreciably. Obviously from the tobacco farmers standpoint this treatment, if useable, would be very beneficial as its use leads to a better yield per acre and a decrease in labour costs.

The characteristics of fine-cured tobacco which are changed in a detrimental manner through the application of this treatment, and the manner in which they change, include increased sugar content, decreased nicotine content, increased sugar/nicotine ratios, decreased filling value, and increased equilibrium moisture percentage.

Either an increase in the sugar content of flue-cured tobacco or a decrease in its nicotine content will effect the tobaccos taste and consequently when both these changes occur in the manner noted above the effect on taste will be quite pronounced. Also in view of a certain inter-relationship between the sugar/nicotine content any increase in the ratio of sugar to nicotine will also normally be found to adversely effect the tobaccos taste.

Of course any decrease in filling value means that for any given amount of tobacco the number of cigarettes or other manufactured tobacco products obtainable will be less than the number obtainable from the same amount of untreated tobacco. Yhe equilibrium moisture percentage has a direct bearing on the tobaccos filling value in that an increase in equilibrium moisture percentage will result in a decrease in the tobaccos filling value or power.

For example it has been found that air-cured Burley tobacco which had been treated with maleic acid hydrazide had a lower filling value and a greater equilibrium moisture percentage than had similar tobacco in untreated form. It was also found that similarly treated cigar tobacco which was also air cured, had a greater moisture equilibrium percentage than similar n on-treated tobacco and furthermore did not ferment properly under the usual fermentation conditions.

Obviously the possibilities which the maleic acid bydrazide treatment has in the tobacco growing industry 3,l3,3li3 Patented July 6, 1%65 makes any satisfactory, practical manner of overcoming the adverse effects which this treatment has on tobacco, extremely important.

Preferably any composition employed to counteract these adverse effects should be applicable to tobacco plants in conjunction with maleic acid hydrazide or its derivatives and should not impair in any manner the plant growth and in particular the sucker growth regulatory activity of these compounds. It is believed that until the present time no such composition was generally known.

However, it has now been found that the adverse effects on tobacco resulting from treatment with maleic acid hydrazide or its derivatives, can be decreased to a substantial and normally very acceptable extent and in some instances eliminated entirely by treating tobacco plants either simultaneously, or shortly before or shortly after treatment with a maleic acid hydrazide tobacco sucker growth inhibiting composition, with a composition containing suitable amounts of a quinone or a ringsubstituted quinone, particularly benzoquinone, ring-substituted chloro derivatives of benzoquinone, nahthoquinone, and ring-substituted chloro and 'ohloro-amino derivatives of naphthoquinone and more particularly a naphthoquinone. The quinones may be applied either in solid form as a dust in which case they will normally be mixed with an inert carrier such as chalk or other acceptable material, or in liquid form in aqueous solution in which instance a compatible surface-active wetting agent such as Tween 20 may be employed. As the normal application will consist of only about 5 to 8 pounds per acre of standing tobacco plants, of the particular quinone as commercially available, although a broader range of 2 to 10 pounds per acre is operable, it will usually be found that although quinone and at least some of its ring-substituted derivatives are only slightly soluble in water, they are sufficiently soluble to provide the required concentration in aqueous solution. However, if the pa-rticular'compound is found not to be sufficiently soluble a compatible emulsifying agent can be employed.

More specifically it has been discovered that certain quinone or ring-substituted quinones counteract to a sub stantial extent the detrimental effects of the maleic acid hydrazide tobacco sucker growth inhibiting treatment but do not appreciably change the sucker growth regulatory activities of the maleic acid hydrazide and its derivatives. Compounds other than quinone which can be successfully used in this manner, including various ring-substituted quinones, are, for example, 2,3-dichloro-l,4-naphtho quinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 1,2-naphthoquinone, 2,5- dichloro p benzoquinone, 2,6-dichloro-p-benzoquinone and 2-amino 3 chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone, with the naphthoquinones being preferable in view of their more active nature and the consistent results obtained through their use in accordance with this invention.

Thus through the joint use of maleic acid hydrazide or its tobacco desuckering derivatives and certain quinone or ring-substituted quinones the beneficial effects of the maleic acid hydrazide treatment, namely an increase in tobacco yield and a reduction in labor costs are retained and the detrimental effects of this treatment are reduced to an acceptable level or in some instances substantially eliminated for all practical purposes.

The following examples are given for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and provide results of tests made on greenhouse-grown tobacco plants.

EXAMPLE I Tobacco plants of the Hicks variety were topped and immediately therafter some were sprayed with an aqueous solution of maleic acid hydrazide, with the amount of hydrazide applied to the plants being equivalent to about 2.25 pounds per acre of standing tobacco; and other topped plants were sprayed with two different mixtures of maleic acid hydrazide and naphthoquinone. One of the of maleic acid hydrazide, or a combination'of maleic acid hydrazide and quinone or ring-substituted quinones. Spray of water was included as the check. The quinones used are shown in the attached table.

mixtures was applied to one group of plants in an amount 5 Each plant received 0.5 gm. of quinone or ring-sub- 'equiv.alent to about 2.25 pounds of maleic acid hydrazide stituted quinones which is equivalent to an amount of and 2.5 pounds of naphthoquinone per acre of standing about 6 pounds per acre of tobacco plants and, 'or 0.166 tobacco and the other mixture was applied to a different gm. of maleic acid hydrazide which is equivalent to an group of plants in an amount equivalent to about 2.25 amount of about 2% pounds per acre of tobacco plants. pounds of maleic acid hydrazide and 7.5 pounds of naph- 10 To insure good Wetting of the leaves atew drops of a thoquinone per acre of standing tobacco. A fourth group wetting agent, Tween 20, were added'to the spray 50111- of plants was used as acheck. I tions. There were three plants for each treatment and The tobacco was subsequently harvested, and flue cured the check. As the leaves ripened, only the, tip leaves were and the eifect of these various treatments of difierent harvested and flue cured. V plants on yield, equilibrium moisture percentage, filling The deleterious elfects of the maleic acid hydrazide 'power, sugar percentage, alkaloid percentage, sugar/ treatment: the increased equilibrium moisture and sugar alkaloid ratio, percentage chlorine and sucker weight are content, increased sugar/nicotine ratioand the decreased showninTable I. filling value and nicotine content of tobacco were over- T able 1 'Maleic acid Maleic acid Maleic acid hydrazide, hydrazide, Check hydrazide, 2% lbsJacre 2% lbs/acre 2% lbs/acre and naphthoand naphthoquinone, 2.5 quinone, 7.5 lbs/acre lbs/acre Growth of suckers, gm. per

plant, oven dried basis 31. 80 8. 00 9. 34 5. 65 .Filling power (percent of check) 100 83 91 92 Sugar percent (total, red 32. 19 38. 64 34. 62 27. 76 Alkaloids, total, percent- 2. 19 2. 01 1.98 2. 16 ,.Sugar/a1kaloid ratio 14. 69 19.22 17. 48 12.85

Yield, gm. perplant, oven dried basis 16. 40 35.10 29.10 27.10 Chlorine, percent 1. 43 l. 12 1. 07 1. V

I It is to be noted with respect to Table I that the relationship betwen the yield and sucker growth is not in some 'come and rectified by additions of quinone or ring-substituted quinones as shown in Table II.

Table II Equilibrium Filling value, Total Sugar: No. Treatment moisture perccm./2 gms. at sugars in Nicotine nicotine cent at 75% 75% RH. percent in percent ratio Check, water spray. 28. 7. 67 19. 29 1.53 12. 6 1 Maleic acid hydrazide 30. 57 6. 30 26.30 1. 44 18.6 1 2, 3-dichloro-1,4-naptho- V 28. 64 7.80 21.32 1. 57 13. 5 1

quinone and maleic acid hydrazide. 4; 1, 4-napthoquinone and 27. 83 7. 20. 96 1. 59 13.1:1

maleic acid hydrazide. 5 1, 2-napthoquinone and 28.12 7. 48 22.17 1.57 14.1:1

maleic acid hydrazide. 6 Quinone (p-benzoquinone 27.96 7.18 18. 91 1. 48 12. 7 1

and maleic acid hydrazide. 7 2, fi-dichloro-p-benzoqui- 26. 85 7. 26 19. 1.50 12.9:1

none and maleic acid hydrazide. 8 2, 6-dichloro-p-benzoqui- 28.01 7. 22. 21 1. 49 14. 9:1

none and maleic acid hydrazide. 9 2-amino-8-chloro-1, 4-naptho- 27. 72 7. 37 19. 67 1.58 12. 4:1

quinone and maleic acid hydrazide.

instances normal, presumably as a result of using green- 70 EXAMPLE III house-grown tobacco plants.

EXAMPLE II Greenhouse-grown tobacco plants, var. Hicks, were Greenhouse-grown tobacco plants, var. Hicks, were topped and immediately sprayed-With aqueous solutions of: (a) maleic hydrazide benzoate, 0.345 gm. per plant,

,which is equivalent to about 2% pounds of maleic acid topped and immediately sprayed with aqueous solutions hydrazide per acre ot-tobacco plants; (b) 2,3-dichloro-1,4-

naphthoquinone, 0.5 gm. per plant, i.e. about 6 pounds per acre of tobacco plants; (c) a mixture of maleic hydrazide benzoate and 2,3-dichloro-1,4-napl1thoquinone with each compound being applied in the same amount consisting of maleic acid hydrazide and tobacco desucltering derivatives thereof in an amount sufiicient to inhibit tobacco sucker growth, said. quinone being applied in an amount sufiicient to alleviate to an acceptable extent the as noted above; and (d) water (as a check). To insure 5 adverse effects of said hydrazide. good wetting of the leaves a few drops of a wetting agent, '7. The method of claim 6 wherein said quinone is Tween 20, were added to the spray solutions. There applied in an amount of from about 2 pounds to about 10 were three plants for each treatment and the check. As pounds per acre of tobacco plants. the leaves ripened, only the tip leaves were harvested and 8. The method of claim 6 wherein said composition is flue cured. 10 applied simultaneously with said compound selected from Maleic hydrazide benzoate action was similar to that the group consisting of maleic acid hydrazide and deof pure maleic acid hydrazide in that it increased the rivatives thereof. tobacco equilibrium moisture content, sugar content, and 9. A method for counteracting the adverse effects which sugar/nicotine ratio and decreased the filling value and the maleic acid hydrazide tobacco sucker growth inhibitor nicotine content of the tobacco. The deleterious efiects treatment has on tobacco comprising applying napththoof maleic hydrazide benzoate were overcome by additions quinone and an inert carrier to a living tobacco plant at of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone as shown in Table III. a time during the period of time extending from shortly Table HI I Equilibrium Filling value, Total Sugar: No Treatment moisture per 00111.12 guns. at sugars in Nicotine nicotine cent at 75% 75% R31. percent in percent ratio 12.15., 75 F.

1 Check 23.64 7.18 18.31 1.62 11.31 2 Mazeic hydrazide benzoate 27.28 90 25.16 1.40 17.9 1 3 LIalcic hydrazide benzoate 24.12 6.92 19.22 1.58 12.1 1

and 2, 3-dichloro-l, 4- napthoquinone.

I claim: before to shortly after application to said plant of a 1. An agricuitural chemical composition for countercompound selected from the group consisting of maleic acting the adverse effects which the maleic acid hydrazide 5 acid hydrazide and tobacco desuckering derivatives theretobacco sucker growth inhibitor treatment has on tobacco of in an amount sufficient to inhibit tobacco sucker comprising a first compound selected from the group growth, said quinone being applied in an amount sufiiconsisting of benzoquinone, ring-substituted chloro decient to alleviate to an acceptable extent the adverse rivatives of benzoquinone, naphthoquinone, and ringeffects of said hydrazide. substituted chloro and chloro-amino derivatives of naph- 16. A method for counteracting the adverse effects thoquinone, and a second compound selected from the which the maleic acid hydrazide tobacco sucker growth group consisting of maleic acid hydrazide and tobacco inhibitor treatment has on tobacco plants comprising apdesuckering derivatives of maleic acid hydrazide, said plying napththoquinone, an inert carrier and maleic acid quinone being present in an amount sufiicient to alleviate hydrazide to a living tobacco plant with said napththoto an acceptable extent the adverse effects of said hyq n being applied in an amount of from about 2 drazide on the tobacco when said composition is applied about 10 Pounds P acre of tobacco Plants and Said to a tobacco plant with id o d compgund being hydrazide being applied in an amount sufficient to inhibit present in an amount effective to inhibit tobacco sucker tobacco Sucker growth 011 said p growth on the plant. ii. A method for counteracting the adverse eflects 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said first comwhich the maleic acid hydrazide tobacco sucker growth pound is 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone and said second inhibitel treatment has 011 tobacfio Plants Comprising compound is maleic a id hydrazide, applying naphthoquinone, an inert carrier and maleic 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said first comhydrazide benloflte to a living iObaCCO Plant With Said pound is 1,4-naphthoquinone and said second compound is napththoquinone being applied in an amount of from 2 mateie acid hydrazide, 55 to about 10 pounds per acre of tobacco plants and said 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said first comhydrazide being pp in an amount Sufiifiiem o inhibit pound is 1,2-naphthoquinone and said second compound tobacco Sucker growth 011 said P 15 malelc acld 9 References Cited by the Examiner 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said first compound is Z-amino-S-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone and said UNITED STATES PATENTS second compound is maleic acid hydrazide. 2,435,499 2/48 Ladd 71-2.3 X 6. A method for counteracting the adverse effects which 2,746,854 5/ 56 Yowell 71-2.3 X maleic acid hgdrazide tobacco sucker growth in- 2,805,926 9/57 Schoene et al 71 2.5 1 itor treatment as on tobacco corn risin a l'in a composition containing a compound s lectei i fr cii n th e OTHER REFERENCES group consisting of benzoquinone, ring-substituted chloro Martin: Guide to The Chemicals Used in crop derivatives or" benzoquinone, napthoquinone and ringf f Canada P of 'w October 1955 (thl'Id substituted chloro and chloro-amino derivatives of naphedltlon), Page thoquinone together with an inert carrier to a livin tobacco plant at a time during the period of time e15 JULIAN LEVITT Primary Examinertending from shortly before to shortly after application to said plant of a compound selected from the group GEORGE D. MITCHELL, LEWIS GOTTS,

' Examiners. 

1. AN AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION FOR COUNTERACTING THE ADVERSE EFFECTS WHICH THE AMLEIC ACID HYDRAZIDE TOBACCO SUCKER GROWTH INHIBITOR TREATMENT HAS ON TOBACCO COMPRISING A FIRST COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BENZOQUINONE, RING-SUBSTITUTED CHLORO DERIVATIVES OF BENZOQUINONE, NAPHTHOQUINONE, AND RINGSUBSTITUTED CHLORO AND CHLORO-AMINO DERIVATIVES OF NAPHTHOQUINONE, AND A SECOND COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MALEIC ACID HYDRAZIDE AND TOBACCO DESUCKERING DERIVATIVES OF MALEIC ACID HYDRAZIDE, SAID QUINONE BEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO ALLEVIATE TO AN ACCEPTABLE EXTENT THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SAID HYDRAZIDE ON THE TOBACCO WHEN SAID COMPOSITION IS APPLIED TO A TOBACCO PLANT WITH SAID SECOND COMPOUND BEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT EFFECTIVE TO INHIBIT TOBACCO SUCKER GROWTH ON THE PLANT. 